It might be the 'Dawn of DC,' but the world’s greatest superheroes — and some of their arch-villains — are going to have to face their inner darkness as part of the next big DC event, as the DCU spends this summer getting overrun by Knight Terrors.

What is DC’s Knight Terrors?

The creation of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths’ architect Joshua Williamson, the core Knight Terrors storyline will take over the DC line for July and August, as the death of one of the superheroes’ earliest villains leads to an investigation that stretches beyond the veil between life and death — leading not only to the debut of a new villain called Insomnia, but also the intervention of a hero traditionally left untouched by DC events: Deadman.

As part of the event, DC will be publishing a number of two-issue series this summer by creators to be named later, each one focusing on a hero or villain having to deal with their biggest fears in something called the Nightmare Realm… but what happens in the Nightmare Realm won’t stay there, with the after effects being felt in the waking world.

"I love horror comics, and it’s been a blast bringing the energy to 'Dawn of DC.' Knight Terrors showcases the horror side of our heroes as a brand-new villain confronts them with their worst nightmares,” Williamson says in a statement about the event. “It’s a fun and horrific event that brings together all of the heroes and villains of DC, along with some surprises!”

The reveal of Knight Terrors means that we finally know what was being teased in the late January Dawn of DC graphic… and, even if it’s not exactly a Batman-themed event per se, we weren’t entirely off-base with our suspicions, either.

Knight Terrors Checklist

Knight Terrors is more than just one series, or even two. Here's a growing checklist of the Knight Terror titles coming this summer:

• May 6: Dawn of DC Knight Terrors Free Comic Book Day Special Edition by Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter
• July 4: Knight Terrors: First Blood #1 by Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter
• July 4: Knight Terrors: Batman #1 by Joshua Williamson and Guillem March
• July 4: Knight Terrors: Ravager #1 by Ed Brisson and Dexter Soy
• July 4: Knight Terrors: The Joker #1 by Matthew Rosenberg and Stefano Raffaele
• July 4: Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #1 by G. Willow Wilson and Atagun Ilhan
• July 4: Knight Terrors: Black Adam #1 by Jeremy Haun
• July 11: Knight Terrors #1 (of 4) by Joshua Williamson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, and Caspar Wijngaard
• July 11: Knight Terrors: Robin #1 by Kenny Porter and Miguel Mendonça
• July 11: Knight Terrors: The Flash #1 by Alex Paknadel and Daniel Bayliss
• July 11: Knight Terrors: Zatanna #1 by Dennis Culver and David Baldeon
• July 11: Knight Terrors: Shazam #1 from Mark Waid and Roger Cruz
• July 11: Knight Terrors: Green Lantern #1 by Jeremy Adams, Alex Segura, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, and Mario 'Fox' Foccillo
• July 18: Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #1 by Josie Campbell, Stephanie Williams, Juan Ferreyra, and Meghan Hetrick
• July 18: Knight Terrors: Superman #1 by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly
• July 18: Knight Terrors: Nightwing #1 by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, and Daniele Di Nicuolo
• July 18: Knight Terrors: Catwoman #1 by Tini Howard and Leila Leiz
• July 18: Knight Terrors: Punchline #1 by Danny Lore and Lucas Meyer
• July 25: Knight Terrors #2 (of 4) by Joshua Williamson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, and Caspar Wijngaard
• July 25: Knight Terrors: Titans #1 by Andrew Constant and Scott Godlewski
• July 25: Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1 by Leah Williams, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Vasco Georgiev
• July 25: Knight Terrors: Detective Comics #1 by Dan Watters and Riccardo Federici
• July 25: Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 by Tini Howard and Hayden Sherman
• July 25: Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 by Tim Seeley and Acky Bright
• August TBD: Knight Terrors #3 (of 4) by Joshua Williamson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, and Caspar Wijngaard
• August TBD: Knight Terrors #4 (of 4) by Joshua Williamson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, and Caspar Wijngaard
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Batman #2 by Joshua Williamson and Guillem March
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Ravager #2 by Ed Brisson and Dexter Soy
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: The Joker #2 by Matthew Rosenberg and Stefano Raffaele
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Poison Ivy #2 by G. Willow Wilson and Atagun Ilhan
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Black Adam #2 by Jeremy Haun
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Robin #2 by Kenny Porter and Miguel Mendonça
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: The Flash #2 by Alex Paknadel and Daniel Bayliss
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Zatanna #2 by Dennis Culver and David Baldeon
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Shazam #2 from Mark Waid and Roger Cruz
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Green Lantern #2 by Jeremy Adams, Alex Segura, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, and Mario 'Fox' Foccillo
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Wonder Woman #2 by Josie Campbell, Stephanie Williams, Juan Ferreyra, and Meghan Hetrick
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Superman #2 by Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Nightwing #2 by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, and Daniele Di Nicuolo
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Catwoman #2 by Tini Howard and Leila Leiz
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Punchline #2 by Danny Lore and Lucas Meyer
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Titans #2 by Andrew Constant and Scott Godlewski
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Action Comics #2 by Leah Williams, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, and Vasco Georgiev
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Detective Comics #2 by Dan Watters and Riccardo Federici
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #2 by Tini Howard and Hayden Sherman
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #2 by Tim Seeley and Acky Bright
• August TBD: Knight Terrors: Night’s End #1 by Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter

If that list looks a little too foreboding, don’t worry; we have a graphic, courtesy of DC:

You can also check out cover artwork for the core Knight Terrors series in the gallery below.

What is Dawn of DC Knight Terrors 2023 Free Comic Book Day Special Edition?

Although the event officially begins in July, fans will get a sneak preview this May, with DC revealing that one of its Free Comic Book Day releases on May 6 will be titled Dawn of DC Knight Terrors Free Comic Book Day Special Edition, and feature work by Williamson, Howard Porter, and artist Chris Bachalo, returning to DC for the first time in two decades. The story for the issue focuses on Damian Wayne experiencing some very unexpected bad dreams, offering a tease as to what lies ahead for the rest of the DCU…!

Catch up on everything you need to know about the Dawn of DC right here.